The Most Depressing Scenes From Tokyo Game Show

Wired: "Japan is over," Mega Man producer Keiji Inafune once lamented, visiting the Tokyo Game Show in 2009.

It's no secret that the Japanese game industry has long since lost the dominion it once enjoyed over the world of videogames. That's not necessarily a bad thing; a broader chorus of voices means a greater variety of video games. But every year the Tokyo Game Show feels a little emptier and sadder, even as it sets new attendance records. The people keep coming, there are just fewer Japanese video games for them to see. Some of Japan's biggest videogame makers sometimes fail to show up, and the ones who do sometimes don't bring any games with them.

WIRED is on the show floor and we've been collecting (and lamenting) the latest signs that Inafune-san might have been right. Here are the saddest, weirdest scenes from the Tokyo Game Show floor.

[HelpfulGamer]

Hopefully Sony's PhyreEngine Game be more improve, making it easier and quicker for game developer to produce great games.

[Donnieboi]

The gta v booth had a massive line at tgs. This article is a lie. Most of the pics were likely taken as the events were winding down.

Pics of gta line being full of japanese patrons:

http://n4g.com/news/1359614...

[XisThatKid]

The pic was just a representation it's not as literal but honestly I couldn't care less if anyone was at the GTA booth. My only problem is that because it had GTA V on it I thought it was another GTA related article and almost didn't read it (What really hasn't been said?).

It's not like GTA V won't sell if people weren't at the TGS booth on top of this is TGS not in America or Eur where GTA gets its most sales.

I know I'm kinda bein a dick about it but I just don't feel the need to be so butt hurt about anything GTA. it's not like anything matters against it's image ore reception It's a great game and well received around the world no one is going to think otherwise.

[hankmoody]

I don't think that's the point the article is trying to make, I think they're more concerned with the lack of Japanese games and AAA titles.

[SugarSoSweet]

I couldn't agree more Japanese gaming isn't the same they have failed to keep up. Japanese gaming is dead

[mixelon]

Failing to keep up with sales and popularity and dead are pretty extremely different things! Obviously they still release good stuff, just not as much of it.

You don't have to be no.1 to be worthwhile. Hell.. GTAV is essentially Scottish, does that mean Scotland "wins"?

[Muffins1223]

GTAV is heavily influenced by america,so i see it as american game....

[weekev15]

Yup, us Scots gave the world gta, lemmings and penicilin...so we win

[DoctorJones]

It took two English guys to turn it 3D and make it into the popular series it is today.

And Muffins, it essentially ridicules much of America and its culture. It also ridicules pretty much everything and anyone else. It is certainly not an American game because it is not made in America.

[Tskales]

Scotland ftw

[mixelon]

@Muffins1223 - that makes no sense. Its developed by a Scottish team in Scotland, contains Scottish references and has a lot of very typically British humour - its about the US, yes, but thats it.

Thats like saying Resident Evil isn't Japanese because its set in and about the US. GTA is NOT an American game however you look at it.

[mixelon]

@ANIALATOR136 - Agreed, but R* North is a Scottish studio, most dev companies use international talent. They're still working on a Scottish export, though British makes more sense from a workforce perspective.

Scotland are probably pretty proud of it tbh which is fair enough.

[Persistantthug]

GTA5 is made by ROCKSTAR NORTH, who are based in Scotland,

But no one can deny that pretty much everything about the GTA Series is based on America. From the music, to the voice actors, to the parodied settings.

Rockstar has made it a specific point to base its games on America.

What that means, you can draw your own conclusions, but it is what it is.

[Imalwaysright]

Japanese gaming is dead... but they were the ones that introduced most of the revolutionary mechanics used in most western games today from cover systems to health regenerations to over the shoulder views to cinematic presentations.

[nosferatuzodd]

Japanese gaming is not dead bro that's just crazy talk its not dominant like back in the day but Japanese gaming is still much alive,street fighter metal gear final fantasy dragon crown white night chronicle, there are lot of good Japanese games if you look some people are just uptight the world catch up and all of a sudden Japanese games are dead really that's just typical American talk has soon has they get good at something I win you suck attitude even game developers are acting like snobby little children about this when American game was trash back in the day I never once hear anyone from japan saying American games is dead

[AndrewLB]

Japanese gaming outside of Japan is relatively dead, but definitely not so in Japan. They still make fantastic games but due to the very high costs of localizing and time involved, plus the fact that gamers in Japan have moved away from PC and Console gaming and have embraced handheld and other portable device technology.
American and European just don't seem to be all that hot on phone/pad/etc gaming and in response, games don't get localized.
Lastly... the guys over at XSEED Games recently discussed how difficult translating from Japanese to English is since a huge number of words do not have any direct translation.

[sync90]

Do you work in the japanese game industry?

[Vip3r]

@doctorjones.

David Jones, Scottish, created the GTA series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

The houser brother were involved but Mr Jones was the official creator behind it.

[DoctorJones]

Yes, he created the series but he was only involved in the first two games. Nothing you've just said invalidates what I said.

Seeing as we're using Wiki for evidence -

'Sam Houser (born 1971)[5] is a British video game producer and developer.[3][6] He is the co-founder and president of Rockstar Games and one of the creative driving forces behind the games in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, being director and producer since the third game. He is responsible for taking GTA into the 3D-environment era, creating realistic cities under fully 3D-engines and turning the series into huge profits during video gaming's sixth-generation era.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

'Dan Houser (born 1974) is an English[2] video game producer as well the co-founder (along with his brother Sam) and vice president of creativity for Rockstar Games.[3] As well as producing video games, Houser has written every Grand Theft Auto game since London, 1969 with the exception of Advance. He is also the head writer for Rockstar Games, being the lead for Bully, Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne 3.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[Vip3r]

@doctorjones

No, he came up with the idea and series. Just because houser was more involved with GTA3 and beyond doesn't mean it's houser's series.

[DoctorJones]

'It took two English guys to turn it 3D and make it into the popular series it is today.'

Point out where I say differently. The influence to the game from them is undeniable, to say otherwise is simply ignorance.

[Vip3r]

@doctorjones.

Not really. Taking an idea and expanding on it doesn't make it your own. That like me making a phone with a 3d holographic screen and saying I made the smart phone.

[Ps4Console]

They love there handhelds more .

[Jeedai Infidel]

Make a badass Godzilla game that has people working together in multiplayer to take down all the giant monsters from that universe using jets and tanks, basically make Battlefield with players working together.

Tell me that wouldn't sell well there and everywhere else.

[mixelon]

But tanks and planes never manage to take out Godzilla and co.. ever! I don't know why they even bother.

Also, I'm not sure that would sell at all - none of the many other Godzilla games have.

[Jeedai Infidel]

I invited those disagrees with my last sentence, didn't I?

[ritsuka666]

What a deplorable state of TGS in this days.

[Khordchange]

Too busy playing Monster Hunter 4

[AceofStaves]

Double-post.

[MultiConsoleGamer]

America founded the gaming industry, America is taking it back.

However if anyone honestly thinks Japan is "over" they are a total fool. Some of the most brilliant, creative, and unique games are coming from Japan. Some of the best minds in gaming are from Japan. This industry wouldn't be the same without contributions from that beautiful culture.

[Misaka_x_Touma]

they founded then almost killed it
japan revived it or should I say Nintendo
and americans are now killing it again

[MultiConsoleGamer]

That's funny because the biggest games this gen are made in the west. The west is also the largest and most important market.

Also the idea that Japan "revived" anything is a myth. During the 83/84 crash the Commodore computer brand thrived as a gaming platform. Arcades also experienced continued popularity. In 1985 Atari had record console sales. They were so popular that Nintendo wanted Atari to sell the Famicom in the US.

I love Nintendo, but the idea that they alone revived the market is a myth.

[linkenski]

Sometimes I wish some companies would just make new games with PS2-like graphics in HD as an admission that they don't got what it takes to make a big blockbuster title, but that the game would actually be amazing still and it would sell well.

That's just a utopia never to be realised :P

[plmkoh]

LOL WTF, this is full sensationalist, it's not even close to the truth.

"Instead of Monster Hunter 4, the 3DS hit released just days before the show, there's Monster Hunter Smart,"

Why would you show an already released game, Capcom is emerging with lots of Smartphone games, would it be a smart thing to show to investors?

"Somehow this lead to the biggest single title in Capcom's booth,"

And why shouldn't it when it made $800mil in 3 days and isn't out yet in Japan.

" But in 2013, her only presence on the show floor was a poster for an upcoming animated movie. Nintendo, who is publishing the sequel, does not normally participate in the Tokyo Game Show."

There you answered your own bloody question, move on.

"Once the crowds show up on the public days, can you imagine waiting in line to see the latest tap-the-fish game?"

The Japanese like free to play mobile games, so why not have a large mobile games prescence. And yes there were a substantial amount of people at the booth.

"Call of Duty had, until now, been featured in Japanese publisher Square Enix's booth"

And what's the problem with that, Square Enix had their own booth with their own IPs to show.

"The game is also being promoted in Japan through a collaboration with Girls & Panzer, an anime about high school girls who drive tanks."

Maybe you just missed the part where right behind those 'Anime girls' there were 30 Alienware computers set up to LAN this game?...Or maybe that was intentionally left out.

"And then there are the parts of the Makuhari Messe, which a few years ago would always be packed to the gills"

Maybe because that empty spot was actually filled with merchandise booths and a food court but weren't set up for press days for obvious reasons.

Full of lies this article.

[Orionsangel]

The people who disagree that Japanese gaming is over are the biggest fans of Japanese gaming. They're in denial and holding on to nostalgia. When Japanese gaming ruled the land. They refuse to believe it. Because they have their favorite current Japanese games and they think because they love them. That the rest of the gaming community has no idea that Japanese gaming is still alive and well. The reality is that Japanese gaming is no longer relevant and in decline.

Remember, everyone who disagrees with my post is just one of those gamers in denial. Stuck in the 90's.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[LoveOfTheGame]

Could you tell me what games sold the most this gen, not packaged with console, and who made the games?

After you have done that, please eat some crow.

[Orionsangel]

If you're talking about Nintendo and their hyped up gimmick the Wii. It was a fad. It came and went. What good are sales when you don't have staying power? When you're no longer relevant.

The games remembered this gen will Uncharted 2, The Last of Us, Bioshock, Fallout 3, Assassin's Creed, Red Dead Redemption, GTAV, Gears of War, Far Cry 3, Crysis 2&3, Borderlands, COD games, Portal, Batman Arkham City, Skyrim, Mass Effect, Battlefield 3, Just Cause 2, Mirror's Edge, Saints Row, The Witcher 2, Deus Ex, Halo 3.

Japan who?

[LoveOfTheGame]

^^^
You're right I totally forgot that Mario Kart and Super Mario Bros are fads. No way they will be popular for more than a couple years.

People still talk about Mario Galaxy, Xenoblade, Twilight Princess/Skyward sword.

Edit: Grammatical Error

[deviouslight]

That is because shooter now populate so anything with a gun sells

[NnT3291]

Its a sad truth. The Ps3 is a Japanese console, but most of its best games are from Western developers: Uncharted series, Killzone 2, Gow, TLOU, Heavy Rain...etc. Back in the Ps2 days it was a different story

[Misaka_x_Touma]

which is why ps4 will not be as successful as ps1 or ps2

[kewlkat007]

I keep telling you guys just as some top japanese devs been saying it..Japan's gaming culture has been changing for the worst..

I remember waiting to hear some great games and jrpgs from Tokyo game show..that industry is dead.

It is now second fiddle to more important areas...

Those in denial remind me of Nintendo fanboys with Nintendo's failed strategies

[ritsuka666]

Sadly gaming in general have change for worst in this generation. =/

[nosferatuzodd]

You hit the nail on the head ever since some console not calling any names step in the gaming ring everything went to hell

[Goku781]

This is sad. The apocalyptic curse that MS and Call of Duty have brought upon the gaming world. Hopefully Japan will be able to resurrect one day soon.

[TuxedoMoon]

Japanese developers can't really keep up because of how ridiculous games cost to make these days. Japan USED to be ahead in gaming because their culture accepted it quicker as a normal thing. Now most of the world has caught up to them in terms of gaming acceptance, so everyone is trying to make money from games.

I prefer Japanese games over western ones mainly because Japanese games are silly, fun, and fantastical. Their game making style is something westerners don't do all too often. Most western games aim for realism and things HAVE to make sense. You ride a giant chicken in FF, You fight Psychics and giant robots in MGS, You get to play as a 9 foot librarian with guns on her shoes in Bayonetta, YOU JUMP ON EVIL TURTLES IN MARIO! These are just some of the things that make Japanese games fun and unique.

Japanese games are declining, they aren't dead. Capcom especially has been in the for front of the decline, imo. With their shady business practices and trying and failing to westernize their games (DMC and RE especially), they've lost a lot of respect and money. People play Japanese games because they are Japanese. Japan game development and philosophy is much different than western ones.

In the near future, I do think we'll see less high budget Japanese games. Unless these newer consoles allow game companies to make bigger games with smaller teams, I don't see japan making lots of expensive games in the future.

[LoveSpuds]

Valkyria Chronicles
Puppeteer
Vanquish
Shadows of The Damned
Azuras Wrath
Beyonetta
Metal Gear Solid 4
Demon Souls
Dark Souls
Catherine
NiNo Kuni
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 4
Ace Combat
Binary Domain

these are the Japanese games I can think of off the top of my head that I have sat on my shelf that have been amazing fun and contain content that would never have been created by a Western Dev.

Japanese games may not be selling in the west in the numbers they used too, but they still offer plenty of experiences that you will not find from western devs.

[hit1023]

The japanese gaming industry has already shifted their focus on mobile phone platform

[Misaka_x_Touma]

because people in Japan love Handhelds.

Reason why DS, PSP, 3DS and PS Vita gets more games.

There will be a time where console and handheld gaming merge. Reason for Nintendo to combine both of their hardware division for the future.

Look at Vita TV. Portable consoles is the future for Japanese Gaming and Gamers.

[H0RSE]

Personally, I could go the rest of my gaming life never touching a Japanese game. Sure, when I was younger they were cool, in part at least due their dominance in the market, but as I got older I found myself less and less interested in them, to the point of complete dis-attachment from them.

Of all the games that really made an impact on me in recent years, zero of them are Japanese - Mass Effect, Elder Scrolls, Battlefield, Borderlands, Half Life, Starcraft, and even older titles like Baldur's Gate, Deus Ex or Thief 2, Japanese games haven't been a prevalent force in my life in some time. The last Japanese games I really remember making a mark on me, was FF3. I can't stand jrpg's now, and haven't touched a FF game since 7, and it couldn't even keep me interested long enough to finish it.

[WeAreLegion]

You've missed some incredible games.

[H0RSE]

To each their own. Whether it be the dialouge, the story, the characters or even the art direction, I generally just don't enjoy Japanese (or Asian in general) games, not just jrpg's. Lost Planet, Resident Evil, Metal Gear, I have no interest in any of these - they all have a Japanese/Asian "feel" to them. I am a Western developer lover through-and-through.

[Azfargh]

Well... is not wrong.

Starts with making everything look, talk, feel and behave like badly-cliche-everything-needs- to-be-stylish-with-cute-behavin g-girls anime.. with skinny schoolboys and boner-making schoolgirls... or just really-short skirts. This is surely getting older.